The 14,000-square-foot lab is one of the nation’s largest dedicated structural timber research facilities, home to innovative CNC and robotic equipment, a CLT press, and one of the largest structural testing facilities in the U.S.
In attendance were Senator Jeff Merkley, UO Professor of Architecture and the institute’s Director of Design Judith Sheine, and Ian MacDonald, the institute’s director.
“This facility tells the story of the evolution of mass timber here in Oregon,” Merkley told the crowd, KTVZ reported. “It's the culmination of a lot of work and a foundation for an extraordinary future for products that are sustainable, for new and different designs, so we can take Oregon trees and ship these engineered products all around the world to further strengthen Oregon’s economy.”
In recent years, Oregon has become a leader in mass timber design, engineering, and construction, paving the way for timber high-rises.
Read additional coverage of the lab grand opening in the Corvallis Gazette-Times.
